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    Mario Gallegos Elementary School is located in the beautiful city of Houston, TX and is part of the Houston Independent School District school system. Houston Independent School District is the largest public school system in Texas and the seventh largest in the United States. Gallegos is dedicated to giving every student the best possible education. Our standards are high for all of our students. Our school is currently educating approximately 600 inner city children in the Magnolia Park neighborhood of Houston’s East end. We meet the various needs of our Pre-Kindergarten through Fifth grade students through either Regular, Bilingual, Gifted and Talented or Special Education classrooms.
     
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     Mr. Mario Gallegos Sr.

              Mario Gallegos Elementary School is dedicated after Mr. Mario Gallegos, Sr. in 1990. Mario M. Gallegos was born in Magnolia Park in Houston, Texas. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He was one of the original “1,000” Houston Volunteers” for the USS Houston. Mr. Gallegos married Olga Ramirez Gallegos and they had 7 children who were also born and raised in Magnolia Park. In 1951, Mr. Gallegos joined the Houston Fire Department as only the 3rd Hispanic in the department. 

    He quickly became an active member and implemented a Fire Safety Program, which he hosted on KLVL, the only Houston Spanish radio station at that time. This program helped to raise fire safety awareness in our Spanish speaking communities. Mr. Gallegos was also instrumental in recruiting many young Hispanics into the fire department. His bilingualism allowed Mr. Gallegos to teach fire technology, arson and, suppression classes to Spanish speaking firefighters at Pan American University, Texas A&M University, Texas South most College and several states in Mexico and Venezuela. He was also very active in his community, serving as commander of American Legion Post 472, a Precinct Judge, chair of the Magnolia Park Civic Club and Coach of the Magnolia Rubies Girls’ Softball Team. Mario Gallegos, Sr.’s life was dedicated to his family, friends, firefighting service and his community. 

    This school stands in the memory of his valuable contributions to communities in Texas and around the world. He will also be remembered for his commitment to all people, young and old, whose lives he touched through his fire fighting service and civic involvement.